SIGN UP

Create an Inhabitat account

Sign up for weekly newsletter

I agree to receive emails from the site. I can withdraw my consent at any time by unsubscribing.

I agree to Inhabitat's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies described therein, and I also consent to the collection, storage, and processing of my data in the United States, where data protection laws may be different from those in my country.

World’s First Integrated Solar System Generates Electricity and Heat

In what could be a game changer for the solar energy industry, a house in suburban Sydney, Australia has installed the world’s first building integrated solar system that generates electricity and heat. The rooftop array combines thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a solar thermal duct system that warms and cools the air. The top layer produces electricity from the sun just as a normal PV panel would, while heat is trapped between the layers and distributed to the home.

Australian steel manufacturer Bluescope produced the $5 million integrated PV thermal system with government assistance via a $2.3 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). “Today we are witnessing an exciting new technology solution moving from the lab to be prototyped on everyday Australian rooftops for the first time,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht. “These first installations are an important step as the technology moves towards commercialization and cost competitiveness with conventional rooftop PV.”

The integrated solar system could eventually reduce installation and energy costs, improve building energy efficiency and reduce peak demand pressure on the power grid. Despite the project’s success, climate change-denying Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s right-wing administration wants to close ARENA as part of an all-out attack on clean energy.

7 thoughts on “World’s First Integrated Solar System Generates Electricity and Heat”

People who set out with no regard for the environment are the cause of climate change! This is a very amazing beginning to a better life! Why would someone want to shut the company who innovated it? Maybe because the root to all evil is money!

Cool idea, but not the world's first. Englert--a US metal panel manufacturer--has had a system for PV and hot water for a couple years already. Good to see expansion of the idea. http://www.englertinc.com/blog/09-2013/solar-thermal-and-standing-seam-metal-roof-systems-perfect-together/